With the 2027 general elections approaching, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is once again at a crossroads. Calls have intensified within the party for reconciliation with former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who left the PDP in the build-up to the 2023 polls.
But Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning: bringing Obi back could spell disaster for the opposition party.
Wike, speaking during a meeting with PDP stakeholders in Abuja, argued that the party is still reeling from unresolved disputes that crippled its performance in 2023.
“If you want to destroy PDP, go and bring Obi back. You can’t plant a tree on a cracked foundation and expect it to grow. PDP needs restructuring, reconciliation, and discipline—not more division,” he declared.
The former governor of Rivers State, who led the influential G-5 group of governors that openly opposed the PDP presidential ticket in 2023, maintained that Obi’s return would only worsen existing cracks in the party.
Supporters of Obi within the PDP, however, counter that the former Anambra governor remains a political heavyweight whose return could energize the youth vote and improve the party’s competitiveness against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Analysts say Wike’s position underscores the dilemma facing the PDP: whether to focus inward on reconciliation and discipline, or to broaden its base by seeking alliances with strong external actors like Obi.
As the countdown to 2027 gathers momentum, the PDP’s decision on this matter may well determine its survival as a viable opposition force.
